Economic Pulse Stabilizes

March 21, 1988|The Morning Call

The Lehigh Valley's economic indicators compiled by The Morning Call showed some stabilization in December, 1 1/2 months after the stock market plummet. Though deed transfers were down 16.1 percent from December 1986, they stood 15.3 percent over November 1987. And while December new car registrations last decreased 6.2 percent from a year earlier, they were 17.7 percent ahead of November 1987. Even the 15 Lehigh Valley stocks on the New York Stock Exchange in December showed a 2.2 percent increase over December 1986 and a 1.8 percent increase over November 1987. Impressiveincreases in December came in help wanted advertising, where the newspaper had a 29.8 percent increase over December 1986 and a 13.8 percent increase over November 1987. The unemployment rate was down 6 percent compared to December 1986 - but up 4.4 percent from November 1987.